It only takes one look at photos of President Obama with his daughters to know that the Commander in Chief is a father first, politician second. Now, in a candid letter, the President opens up about his feelings towards his own father and how his absence shaped his own concept of fatherhood.

The letter, which appears in this week’s issue of People magazine, gives a personal and honest look at how the man in the Oval Office views his most important role in life. In an excerpt from his Father’s Day letter, President Obama writes:

I grew up without a father around. I have certain memories of him taking me to my first jazz concert and giving me my first basketball as a Christmas present. But he left when I was two years old.

And even though my sister and I were lucky enough to be raised by a wonderful mother and caring grandparents, I always felt his absence and wondered what it would have been like if he had been a greater presence in my life. I still do. It is perhaps for this reason that fatherhood is so important to me, and why I’ve tried so hard to be there for my own children.

That’s not to say I’ve always been a perfect dad. I haven’t. When Malia and Sasha were younger, work kept me away from home more than it should have. At times, the burden of raising our two daughters has fallen too heavily on Michelle. During the campaign, not a day went by that I didn’t wish I could spend more time with the family I love more than anything else in the world.

But through my own experiences, and my continued efforts to be a better father, I have learned something over the years about what children need most from their parents.

The full letter will appear in People’s weekly issue on newsstands today.